Here I am, 3 years down. Hardly even registering that I used to be a very heavy smoker.

If I had remembered, I would have thought of something meaningful to write here, the place that helped me so much in the first year or so... but I didn't, and that is such a good thing!

Quitting is not as hard as it seems - sure there is hard stuff to overcome, but it can be done. I am nothing special, just someone who decided that he had had enough of smoking and wasn't going to do it anymore. Seriously, if I can do it anyone can.

I've had a look through some of my old posts - and am amazed at some of them. If anyone has the time and is interested in the journey... then do a search and have a read Diary of a quitter... Theres some memories there... lol.

"My name is Stuart, and I am a nicotine addict. Today, I choose not to smoke"

Hi Stuart - congratulations, and thanks for posting. I think that for many of us, forgetting is the ultimate dream! It's great to see longer term quitters on here - it really gives me hope that one day, that will be me.

You decided to quit and I am sure that like most of us you never exspected to get to 3 months let alone 3 years :eek: but here you are and to cap it all you nearly forgot, well done Stuart I think you have done brilliantly and even when the going got tough you still kept going.

Thanks everyone - I know I don't visit often, but this place is the "home" of my quit and without the people on this board I would never have got to the point where it was an easy thing to do. Great to see so many names I recognise still here and all the newer quitters doing so well

I see lots of people try and fail, as I tried and failed in the past, and I do believe that the difference is simply knowledge and talking to people who understand. Non-smokers don't get it, or care. Smokers are jealous.

3 Years seems like a long time, hell 3 days sounds like a long time to start with... but it comes round quickly and isn't anywhere near as far away as you think. Same with any journey - one step at a time.

And yes, Mr Pots... I'm still biking, your machine puts mine to shame but I do love getting out there and doing some miles now and then. That's the biggest change I've noticed, I love exercise and life is much more joyful when you can run around acting like an idiot with the kids and not collapse in a heap after 20 yards! I'm now only 3 years away from 40 and have more energy and life in me than I did at 20.